Yann Tiersen

Contact House of Blues New Orleans at (504) 310-4999 for questions or hours

During concerts, a musician’s wild side emerges, such as when a guitarist destroys an amplifier or a singer eats a zebra. Observe untamed talent with this this GrouponLive deal to see Yann Tiersen at House of Blues New Orleans. For $16, you get one ticket for general-admission seating on Sunday, May 20, at 8 p.m. (up to a $31 value, including all fees).

When Yann Tiersen was 13, he smashed his violin. At the time, he had no idea that the rebellious act was reminiscent of Mozart—another musical prodigy—and his symphonic tradition of cracking the conductor’s baton over his knee. Once his violin lay shattered, young Yann bought a guitar. He formed a band; he broke up with the band. Along his way he tinkered with cheap mixing decks and old instruments, recording experimental beats, loops, and rhythms. Many of these early recordings formed his first two albums, which inspired the material for his breakthrough: the soundtrack to the 2001 film Amélie.

During his live shows, a band joins Yann as he struts onstage with a guitar slung around his shoulder or vintage synthesizer planted before him. At the end of April at a sold-out show in Brooklyn, Yann showcased the propulsive beats and wailing guitar licks that are prominently featured on his latest album, Skyline. Earlier material also slipped into the show, including songs the Village Voice described as "if a rock jam were to be reconfigured along the lines of a piano prelude."

Fellow French outfit Piano Chat opens the evening. Last year’s EP Ours Molaire kicks off with a frenetic title track, featuring a needling guitar that prods the music into a convulsive tempo normally played at the debut of an apprentice cobra juggler.

House of Blues New Orleans

At home in the French Quarter, the House of Blues New Orleans keeps its heritage ever near with a metal box of mud from the Mississippi Delta hidden beneath its stage. Around this, more than 290 pieces of folk art—one of the largest collections in the country—decorate the walls. Also bringing its Southern charm and homestyle feel are hardwood floors, no fewer than three bars, and two levels for concert viewing.

Customer Reviews

The groupon was easy to purchase and redeem. I was able to use a promo code, so I got the deal a little cheaper. I had not problems redeeming at the door and the performance was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was worth every penny.